Apparatus and method for punching music sheets



May 25, 1926; 1,586,257

B. E. MILLS -APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PUNCHING MUSIC SHEETS Filed May26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25 51926. B. E. MILLS APPARATUS AND METHODFOR PUNCHING MUSIC SHEETS Filed May 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 251926.

B. E. MILLS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PUNCHING MUSIC srmm's 4 SheetS-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1924 a. w 9 g w\m 0v five/2Z0)"; Jew 'e 5,]721 ZZMay 25,1926. 1,586,257

.' B. E. MILLS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PUNCHING MUSIC snss'rs Filed May26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fatented lVlay 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

133mm E. MILLS, or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, assreho'n To MILLS NOVELTY,COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ILLINOIS.

Application filed. May 26,

This invention relates particularly to the production of music sheets,or music rolls, for use in self-playing musical instruments.

In accordance with the invention, a music a sheet is prepared by passinga blank sheet in front of a series of punches which are adapted to berapidly actuated, and the actuation of the punches is controlled bymeans of the keys and expression devices of a musical instrument, ;ormusical instruments. Then any punch is thrown into actuation, it isreciprocated with very great rapidity while the note sheet is fed acrossits point. In this way, the punch produces a series ot' overlappingperforations, or, in other words, cuts the paper away, bit. by bit,thus. producing a slot having comparatively straight edges. I f

The music sheet thus prepared maybe used as a master sheet forpreparingany desired number of duplicates, or itrnay be employed in aself-playing musical instrument for controlling the playing ot theinstrument, in a known manner.

' The accompanying drawings illustrate. the manner in which a musicsheet nay be prepared which is adapted to control the play: ing' oi apiano on the one hand, and the playing of a stringed instrument of theViol class on the. other hand.

In the drawings- Figure .1 represents diagrammatically thenieanswhcreby, in the playing of an ordinary upright piano, ororgan,.the playing of the instrument serves to control the operation ofpunches for translating the music and expression. to a music sheet;Fi 1. which may be regarded an extension of Fig. 1 representsdiagrammatically the means whereby the music being played on anelectrically controlled stringed instrument by means of the keys of asuitable man-- ual. or console iiiay be translated to the music sheetundergoing perforation; Fig. 2 represents broken vertical sectional viewot' a punch device suitablefor the purpose; Fig. 3 is a brokenhorizontal section taken as indicated. at line .8 oil Fig. 9.; and i isa broken view of the music sheet, this View illustratingdiagrammatically the IHELIX: nor in which tl'ie playin-g of a stringedinstruinent is controlled from the sheet, more particularly withreference tothe manner in. which a. staccato effect may he secured-Referring first to Fig. 1,. A represents the 1924. Serial No. 715,889.

string-plate of a piano equipped with strings A; B represents a portionof a piano action having hammers B and. a hammer-rail, or rest B C, thekey-inanualot the piano, each key serving to actuate a riser G whichoperates the jack-butt C by means otwhich' the hammer is actuated in awell-known manner; D, an expression control being. in

device equipped with punches, theactuation of which is controlled fromthe keys and expression devices of the piano or other instrument. I a pIn Fig. 1', l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 denote electroinagnets which control theactuation: of punches. The punches controlled by these magnets serve toproduce the slots 1 2 3", 4:, and 5, shown in Fig. 4. 7

Referring, at this. point, to Fig. 1%, 6, 7, 8, and 9' denoteelectroinagnets controlling the actuation of punches or the punchingoevice F whichcorresponds with the notes and expression devices ot'astringed instrument of the Viol class whose action is diagrammaticallyshown in Fig. 1' The 818(5'Li0 magnets, just mentioned, control theactua-- tion of punches designated 6, 7 8, and 9, shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3; and the punches just enumerated serve to produce the slots 6T38 and. 9-", shown in Fig. 4..

Referring again to Fig. 1, the hammerrail B is shown equipped with arms10 sup ported on pivots 11,. carried by the bracket 12. Onev of the:arms 10 has rigidly connected therewith, or; with itspi-vot, anactuating arm 10. The hammer-rail is normolly at rest on a support, orstop, 13, carried by the bracket When the ham: iner-rail lSllRO-VQCltowardthe strings, it shortens the movement of. the hammers, thus 1producing a softer sound, In practice, pros vision may be made formoving the hammerrail to any desired position In the selfplaying pianoinstrument it is preferred to make provision for supporting thehammerrail in leastto-ur difi'erent positions,, but

fo-rsi-inpli'eity of exphuiat-ion, such provision is not shown anddescribed in the present application. v

TheeXp-ression device D may be assumed as comprising a pedal 1econnected: by a link 15 with a lever: 16 supported on a. fulcrumReferring to the electric circuits shown in Fig. 1, 26 denotes apositive main, and 27, a negative main. The dash-pot 21 is equipped witha contact member 28 which normally is in contact with a neutral, ornon-energized, block 29. A branch conductor 30 connects the contact 28with the positive main 26. One end of each of the solenoids oftheelectromagnets, 1 to 5 inclusive, is connected with a negative wire31. The other end of the electromagnet 1 has leading thereto a conductor32; the electromagnet 2 has leading thereto a conductor 33; theelectromagnet 3 has leading thereto a conductor 34; the el-ectromagnet 4has leading thereto a conductor 35; and the .electromagnet 5 has leadingthereto a conductor 36.

The contact member 28 co-acts, 011 the one hand, with a contact 35connected with the conductor 35, and, on the other hand, with a contact36 connected with the conductor 36. Thus, the contacts 28 and 35 controlthe magnet 4, and the contacts 28 and 36 control the magnet 5; When thepedal 14 is depressed, it lifts the hammer-rail B and, at the same time,lifts the piston 20. The dash-pot 21 is filled with fluid so that thesudden lifting of the piston causes the dash pot to be lifted, therebymoving the contact member 28 into contact with the contact member 35.This causes the magnet 4 to be energized, .and the magnet 4 controls apunch adapted to out slots in a music sheet corresponding with the advanced position of the hammer-rail B so that when the music sheet isused in a selfplaying instrument, a softer tone will re sult. The playermay keep his'foot on the pedal 14 for the desired length of time in theplaying of the piano, but the dash-pot 21 will, nevertheless, return tothe normal position shown in Fig. 1, thus breaking the circuit of themagnet 4 after a slot'of a certain length has been cut in the musicsheet. When the player releases the pedal, the spring 25 returns thepedal to its normal position and depresses the piston 20. v This causesthe dash-pot 21 to be lowered, compressing the spring 23 and carryingthe contact member 28 into contact with the contact member 36. Thiscloses the circuit of the magnet 5. The magnet 5 controls the actu ationof a punch which serves to punch a slot in the music sheet whichcorresponds with the proper moment for the return of the hammer-rail toits normal position, speaking now of the self-playing instrun'ient. inpractice, the self-playing instrument may be provided with means wherebythe hammer-rail, after moving to a certain position nearer the stringswill remain in that position until the slot cut by the punch controlledby the magnet 5 serves to restore the hammer-rail to its normalposition.

Still referring to Fig. 1,- the damper E is normally pressed against thestring, as by means of a spring 37, and the actuating device of thedamper is equipped with an arm-or lever 38 which is adapted to retractthe damper. The expression device E which controls the damper may beassumed to comprise a pedal 39 connected by a link 40 with a lever 41which has one end supported on a fulcrum 42. The other end of the lever41 is connected by a plunger 43 With a piston 44 located in a dash-pot45. The dash-pot is guided by'a guide 46 and rests on a spring 47mounted on a support 48. A spring 49 is interposed between the support48 and the pedal 39. The pedal has an arm 39. which engages the lowerend of the lever 38. The dash-pot 45 is equipped with a contact 50 whichis connected by a conductor 51 with the positive main 26. In the normalposition of the dash-pot, the contact member 50 engages a neutral block52. Contact member 50 co-acts with the contact member 33 connected withthe conductor 33 and with a contact member 34 connected with theconductor 33 and with a contact member 34 connected with the conductor34. Thus, the contact members 50 and 33 control the circuit of thesolenoid 2; and the contact members 50 and 34 control the solenoid 3.hen the pedal E is depressed, the contact member 50 is moved intocontact with the contact member 33*, and the solenoid 2 causes a punchto be actuated to cut a slot in the music sheet corresponding with thepoint of removal of the damper from the string. The dash-pot returns tothe normal position shown in Fig. 1, even though the pedal E be helddepressed during the proper period of time by the operator. Upon theremoval of the foot, the piston 44 is permitted to descend, thusdepressing the dash-pot and carrying the contact member 50 into contactwith the contact member 34*. This causes the electromagnet 3 to beenergize-d, thus causing a punch to be operated to cut a slotcorrespending with the point of removal of the foot from the pedal. Inpractice, provision is made in the self-playing instrument, so that theslot will cause the damper to be again applied to the string at thispoint. The circuit of the electromagnet 3 is broken after a briefinterval by the return of the dash-pot 45 to its normal position underthe influence of the spring 47.

Each key of the key-manual C issupported on a fulcrum 58, and each keyis equipped at its rear end with a circuit closer nected with theconductor 32. Thus, whenv the circuit is closed by the contact member54, the solenoid 1 is energized. The solenoid 1 controls the actuationof a punch for punching a slot in the music sheet which corresponds withthe note struck by the key.

. sponding with the notes and expression de vices of the electricallyoperated stringed instrument controlled by the key-manual G.

In Fig. 1*, H represents a string; 1, a rotary bow whose depression intocontact with the string is controlled by a bow-magnet ,I; J, afinger-lever whose moveinent into cont ct with the string is controlledby a fingernnagnet J; K, a motor which serves to rotate the bow; L, aloud pedal, which, when depressed, causes the speed of the motor to beincreased; M, a soft pedal, which, when depressed, causes the speed ofthe motor to be decreased; N, an electromagnet which controls theenergizing and de-energizing of the magnet 9, which, in turn, controlsthe actuation of the staccato punch; O, a shunt magnet which controlsthe armature of the n'iagnet N; P, a dashpot, or timing device, whichcontrols the downward pull or closing movement of the ari'na'turc of themagnet O; Q- and Q, switches interposed in the circuits,asshown; and 'R,a resistance element, such as a lamp, interposed in one of the circuits.

It may be stated here, that the electrically operated stringedinstrument mechanism herein referred to for the purpose of illustratingthe present invention is of a wellknowntype, in which the bowscorresponding with the several strings of the instrument arecontinuously driven, and in which the depression of a bow andtheapplication of a finger to the string are controlled by a commoncircuit; and in the illustration here given, the circuit controlling theapplication of the bow and the finger to the string controlled by a key,it being understood that the key-manual is provided with a keycorresponding with each note and is Referring now to Fig. 1, Grepresents the provided with a circuit controlled: by each key. I U

The mains 26 and 2T,'shown inFig. 1, may be understood as continued inFig. 1. The positive main 26 has, a branch 26 in which the switch Q andresistance R are JiltGlPOSGd, and has a branch 26" in which the switchQ, is interposed. In practice, the feeding ofthe" music sheet in frontof the punches commences before the playing of the musical lnstrumentscommences, and the switch Q, is used to, maintain the magnet N inenergized condition, and thus preventthe operation ofthe staccato magnet9 atany time except when the musical instruments are being played. Inthis connection, it maybe stated here that the staccato magnet operatesto' cause a slot to be punched in the music sheet only when no key ofthe manual G is in the depressed position. The purpose is to cut a slotinthe music sheet in such position that it may serve to cause the bow tobe lifted from the string even though the finger may dwell upon thestring.

The negative main 27 has a branch 27 which is connected with the upperends of the electromagnets 6 to 9 inclusive, and has a branch 27 whichis provided with subbranches 2"" and 27 which connect respectively withthe magnets N and G. i

The. motor K is provided with terminals 5?, 58, 59 and 60which are soconnected with the coils of the motor as to enable the'motor to runnormally at a given speed, or to have the speed increased for producinga louder tone, or decreased for producing a" softer.

tone. The negative branch 27 has a branch 61 leading to the'terminal 58,and has a branch 62 connected by conductors 68, 64, 65 and 6'6 with theupper ends of-the mag-- nets 6 to 9 inclusive. I

Each key of the key-manual G controls parallelcircuits which include aconductor 67 connected with a punch-controlling n1agnet, such as themagnet 6; a conductor 68 which includes the windings of theelectroinagnets J and I and which connects with the positive wire 26;contact member 6'5" connected with the conductor 67 a contact member 68connectedlwith the conductor 68; and a conductor 69 connected-with thepositive branch 26 and connectedwith the contact member 69 mounted onthe rear end of the key and co-acting with each of the contact members67 .and 68*, the arrangement being such that when the circuit throughthe conductor 68 is closed in playing a note, the circuit through theconductor 67 is likewise closed to cause the corresponding punch to beactuated. I r The expression device L may beregarded as'a pedal adaptedto cause the speed of the motor to be increased. This pedal is equippedwith a pair of contacts 70 and 1 which are connected by a conductor 72with its the positive branch 26. The contact coacts with a contact '"3connected with a conductor 74: which leads to the binding post 59 ot'the motor. hen this conductor is euergized, the current passes to theterminal 59 ot' the motor and through the motor to the terminal 58 andthence to the negative line 61, thus causing the motor to operate atincreased speed, giving the loud expression. At the same time, thecontact member 71 engages a contact member 75 which is connected by aconductor 75 with one end of the magnet 7, which controls the actuationof a punch which produces the slots in the music sheet which serve togive the loud expression, as, when the music sheet isemployed' forautomatically controlling the operation of a violin.

The expression device M may be regarded as a pedal which is equippedwith a pair of contacts 76 and 77 which are connected by a conductor 78with the conductor 72. The contact member 76 co-acts with a contactmember 7 9 which is connected with a con ductor 79 which leads to theterminal 60 of the motor; l vhenthis conductor is energized, currentpasses to the terminal 60, thence through the motor to the terminal 58and thence through the negative line 61. At the same time, the contactmember 7? makes contact with a contact member 80 con nected with aconductor 81 connected with a conductor 80 which leads to one end of theelectromagnet 8 which controls the punch for producing the slots in themusic sheet which control the soft expression.

The conductor 81 connects the positive branch 26 with the terminal 57 ofthe motor. When the conductor 81 is energized, the current passes to theterminal 57, thence through the motor to the terminal 58, back throughthe negative line 61. This is the circuit for the normal operation ofthe motor.

The positive branch 26 leads to one end of the series magnet N, and thene ative branch 21 connects with the other end of said magnet. Thepositive branch 26 is electrically connected with the armature N of themagnet N. Said armature carries a contact member 82 which co-acts with acontact member 88 connected with a conductor 83" which connects with oneend of the magnet 9, which controls the staccato punch. T he armature Nis equipped also with a contact member 8 which co-acts with a contactmember 85 connected by a conductor 85* with one end of the electromagnetO. The magnet O has an armature O which is equipped with an extension 86which engages an extension 87 of the armature N. The armature O is alsoequipped ith an arm 88 which is connected with a plunger 89 equippedwith a piston 90, said piston being located in the dash pot P. Thepiston 90 is equipped with an upwardly opening check valve 90. Thedash-pot P is filled with fluid, and the piston operates to retard thedownward movement of the armature 0 when the magnet O is energized. 1nthe position shown in Fig. 1 the circuit of the staccato .punch isbroken at the contacts 89. and 83, while the circuit of the magnet O isclosed at the contacts 84 and 85. lVhile the music is being played, andthe operation of the punch device is thus being controlled by theplaying of the music, the switch Q. is open, and the switch Q, isclosed. When a key of the manual G is struck in playing a note currentpasses from the positive main thro h the conductor 68 which energizesthe finger-magnet J" and the bow-n'iagnet I, and c. rrent is thusdirected also to the series magnet N. This causes the armature N to bedepressed from the position shown in Fig. 1, thus breaking the circuitof the magnet G at the contacts 81- and 85. hen the finger is releasedfrom the key, the circuit of the magnet h' is broken at the contacts 68and (59, thus permitting the armature N to i'iy up. This closes thecircuit of the stac cato magnet 9 at the contacts 82 and 83 and, at thesame time, closes the circuit of the shunt magnet O at the contacts 84and 85. The magnet Q then operates to draw its armature G downward witha retarded movement, thus bringing the armature N again to the positionshown in Fig. 1 and break in the circuit of the staccato magnet. Thecato magnet is thus kept energized for a sui'iicient period of time toenable a slot of desired length to be cut in the music sheet, which slotserves to give the staccato effect when the music sheet is employed inconnection with an automatically played violin. From the foregoing, itwill be seen that the staccato magnet can only operate when the ilngeris released from the key of the manual and that the length of the slotout in the music sheet is automatically controlled by the magnet O andthe associated dash-pot, or timing device.

Any suitable timing device may be emperforations 89 in a cross-bar 90,as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3. Each punch into which anyoneof the cross-bars 98 may be projected, and, when so projected, the bar98, by reason of the engagement with the shoulder 94.", will serve toactuate the punch. That is, when the bar 93 is elevated, it causes thereciprocating cross-head 88 to transmit its motion to the punch. 'Eachbar 93 rests,

at its lower end, on the rear end of a lever 95 which is connected by alink96 to the armature 97 of a controlling magnet. For example, thepunch 9, shown in F 2, is controlled by the staccato magnet 9, the punchbeing thrown into operation when the armature 97 is depressed. Eachpunch of the machine is controlled in a similar manner. I

The music sheet 98 is taken from a suit-' able roll (not shown) at theupper end of the machine and is drawn by a pair of feed rolls 99 over ashoe, or die-bar 100,

which is equipped with dies 101 which In Fig. 4, 98 represents a sectionof the music sheet allotted to the piano, and98 represents a sectionallotted to the stringedv In a general way, the manner,

instrument. of using a music sheet in connection with a self-playinginstrument is well understood in the art, and a brief description withreference to Fig. 4: will suifice. The music sheet is placed over ametallic tracker-bar, or roll, 102, and is interposed between saidtracker-bar and the contact members'which are designated 1, 2, 3, 4, and5, in the left hand portion of Fig. 1, and 6, 7, 8, and 9, in theright-hand portion of Fig. 1. The manner in which the staccato controlis effected in connection. with a stringed instrument of the viol classis illustrated in Fign t. The string is designated H, the bow-magnet is'designated I and the fingermagnet is designated J It is to be understoodthat the bow, designated 1, is constantly rotated by'means of amotor(not shown), A positive conductor 103 has in its course the solenoids ofthe. magnets I and J 2 and connects with the contact member 6 whichco-acts with the row ot-noteslots 6*. hen such a slot is under thecontact 6, the circuit is completed through the .103 haswin its :coursethe solenoid of a switch-controlling magnet 105, and the conductor 108connects with the staccato contact 9p is completed through thetracker-bar and the. returnconductor 104. This energizes themagnet105causing it -to attract the armature 106, thus closing a switch107 interposed in a shunt line 108, which shortcircuits or cuts out thebow-magnet I thus causing the bow tobe lifted wholly from the string.When the slot 9 passes from beneath the brush 9, the circuit of magnet105 18 broken, permitting'the armature 106 to drop, thus breaking theshunt circuit through the conductor 108 and leaving the bow-magnet I incondition to operate again when a, note is sounded.

' It is to be understood, withreference to Fig. 1, that each key of thekey-manual G is provided with suitable electrical connections similar tothose shown in Fig.1 and including wires connected with the wires 26 and85, whereby each keywill control the electro-magnets N and O whichcontrol the staccato punch. Thus, e'ach key would have a. conductor 69connected with the branch 26' and a conductor 68 extending throughsolenoids of the electromagnets J and I and to the conductor 26so thateach key 1would control the staccato punch through the medium of theelectromagnetic device comprising the magnet N and "the magnet Whenany'key of the manual is depressed, the staccato punch cannot beoperated, but when thekeys are all in the open position, the staccatopunch willoperate. As has been stated, prior to the beginning of theplaying operation, and while the note-sheetis travelling across thedies, the switch Q is closed, thus energizing the mag net N andpreventingoperation of the staccato punch. This expedient is employedalso when it is desired to have the music sheet travel idly, as where aspace is provided between different pieces of music on the same musicroll, or wherea pause occurs in the music for any considerable period.

It will beunderstood from the description given, that the keys andexpression devices ot a musical instrument of the piano or organ type,may, by equipment of the character shown in Fig. 1, be caused toconpression in the music sheet asthe stringed instrument is played.These instruments may be played in synchronism, and the hen one of thestaccato slots 9 1 1s under'xthe brush, or contact, 9, a circuit musicand expression played on each instrument reproduced on a common musicsheet. The music sheet thus produced, whether by the playing oi. oneinstrument or two, may be employed as a master mus c sheet to produceduplicates to be used n controlling the automatic playing of sinnlarmusical instruments; or, if desired, the music sheet produced by themeans herein described be employed directly tor controlling theoperation of a self-playing instrument.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, it being the intent to claim therein all of the inventiondisclosed, in view of the prior art.

hat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a musical instrument ot' the piano, or organ, type,equipped with a key-manual, a stringed instrument of the viol class. akey-manual controlling the playing of the notes of said stringedinstrument, a machine equipped with a plurality of punches,electromagnets controlling the operation of said punches, and contactsactuated by the keys of said manuals and controlling the circuits ofsaid electromagnets.

2. In combination, a machine equipped with a plurality of punches, and amusical instrument equipped with keys controlling operated the actuationof certain of said punches and equipped with a manually operatedexpression device controlling the actuation of one or more of saidpunches, said expression device being equipped with timing means forcontrolling the period of actuation of the corresponding punch.

In combination, a musical instrument of the piano, or organ, type,equipped with a keyananual and equipped with a manually expressiondevice, a machine equipped with a plurality of punches, means controlledby each key for controlling the operation of a corresponding punch. andmeans associated with said expression device for controlling theoperation of two or more of said punches.

4. In combination, a machine equipped with a plurality of note-punchesand a plurality of expression punches, electromagnets controlling theoperation of the punches, and a musical instrument having keys equippedwith circuit controlling devices controlling the electromagnets whichcontrol the actuation of the note-punches, and having a manuallyoperated expression device equipped with a contact device which controlsthe circuits of the electromagnets of two expression punches.

5. In combination, an electrically operated stringed instrument of theviol class, a keymanual controlling the playing of the notes of saidstringed instrument, a machine equipped with a plurality of note-punchesand with a staccato punch, an electromagnetassociated with each key andcontrolling the actuation of a note-punch and having a circuitcontrolled by the corresponding key, a staccato magnet controlling theactuation of said staccato punch, said last-mentioned magnet having anormally open circuit provided with a contact, and an electromagneticdevice associated with the note-playing circuit controlled by a key ofthe key-manual, said electron'iagnetic device being operative to closethe circuit of the staccato magnetonly when the key is in the openposition.

6. In combination, an electrically operated instrun'i-ent of the violclass, a key-manual provided with a key corresponding with each note,note-sounding means, including a circuit associated with each key, suchcircuit having a switch operated by the key, a machine equipped with aplurality of notepunches and with a staccato punch, a note magnetcontrolling the actuation of each note punch, a staccato magnetcontrolling the actuation oi a staccato punch, a circuit for each notemagnet controlled by a corresponding key, and an electromagnetic devicecontrolling the circuit of the staccato magnet, said device comprisingan electromagnet in series with the magnets of the note-sounding meansand equipped with an armature controlling the circuit of the staccatomagnet, and a second electromagnet having an armature controlling saidfirstment-ioned armature and having a circuitcontrolled by saidfirst-mentioned armature.

7 In combination, an electrically operated instrument of the viol class,a key-manual provided with a key corresponding with each note,note-sounding means, including a circuit associated with each key, suchcircuit having a switch operated by the key, a machine equipped with aplurality of notepunches and with a staccato punch, a note magnetcontrolling the actuation of each note punch, a staccato magnetcontrolling the actuation of the staccato punch, a circuit for each notemagnet controlled by a corresponding key, and an electromagnetic devicecontrolling the circuit of the staccato magnet, said device comprisingan electromagnet in series with the magnets of the note-sounding meansand equipped with an armature controlling the circuit of the staccatomagnet, a second electromagnet having an armature controlling saidfirst-mentioned armature and having a circuit controlled by saidfirst-mentioned armature, and a timing device controlling the closing ofthe armature of said second electromagnet.

8. In combination, a stringed instrument of the viol class, a key-manualprovided with a key for each note, a bow, a bow-motor having circuitsfor varying speeds, a bowthe actuation of each note-punch, a staccatomagnet controlling the actuation of the staccato punch, a circuitcontrolled by each key and controlling the corresponding note magnet,expression devices equipped with circuits controlling the speed of themotor, and an electromagnetic device controlling the staccato magnet,said electromagnetic device being controlled from the keys of saidinanual and being operative to close the circuit of the staccato magnetonly when all of said keys are in the open position.

9. In combination, a stringed instrument of the viol class, a key-manualprovided with a key corresponding with each note, notesounding meansequipped with a circuit,

such note-sounding means being associated with each key and equippedwith a' circult controlled by such key, a punching machine I actuationof the staccato punch, circuits for theflnote magnets controlledrespectively by the corresponding keys, and an electromagnetic devicecontrolling the circuit of the staccato magnet and including a mastermagnet which directly controls the circuit of the staccato magnet, andwhich has a circuit controlled by each of said keys and con trolled alsoby a main switch, whereby the master magnet may be energized to preventactuation of the staccato punch during periods when music is not'beingplayed.

10. The method of producing a music sheet which comprisescontrolling theactuation'of a note-punch by each of the keymanual'ot the musicalinstrument and controlling the actuation of a plurality of expressionpunches by asingle expression device of the musical instrument.

11. The method of producing amusic sheet adapted for controlling theplaying of a stringed instruinentiof the viol class which comprises thecontrolling of a note-punch by each key of a key-manual and thecontrolling of a staccato punch by each of said keys in such manner thatthe staccato punch will be actuated only when the keys are in openposition.

BERTIE E. MILLS

